Phlox subulata

Phlox Subulata or moss pink or creeping phlox is the perennial to propagate and is used in rock gardens, as edging along pathways, and on slopes. Color varies from red, white, pink, blue, lavender, or purple. Standard propagating procedure is by division, however because it can spread out up to two feet, the procedure I suggest is layering and again not all the branches are self-rooting and one needs a microscope to find the starter roots. It is best to dig up a clump and systematically break apart the clump gently and use 5-6 branches clumped together to pot and cut back the top growth to approximately 3" to help promote root growth and branching out when the plant takes hold. Make certain all plants that you are attempting to root have ample water and you will have a blast of spring color in your landscape garden bed once the roots are formed and transplanted.

Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster, a fast growing semi-evergreen groundcover type woody plant is the next to propagate by layering. Remember layering occurs when a plant spreads along the ground and sends out roots under optimum soil conditions. Not all branches, just some. Depending on the climate usually if the branch is pruned early in the spring and potted in a good sand/manure mix with bone meal, one should have a sturdy new Cotoneaster to plant in the landscape garden bed by fall. Make certain the branch that is planted in rooting medium is pruned back to about 6 inches so when it starts growing it will branch out in two or more different directions. Rooting hormone is not necessary. Cotoneaster is an semi-evergreen with small red berries in the fall and landscape designers usually use it to flow over walls or in rock gardens because most varieties cascade with the new growth appearing at the top with the old growth dying underneath.

Layering.

Now that I have gleaned over propagating perennials by division, and there are many more different varieties of plants then I covered, actually that’s how I propagated the biennial, Columbine, because it is self seeding, the next step is propagation by layering and this occurs when plants spread branches out parallel to the earth and send out roots into a fertile patch of loose soil. You prune the branch that sent out roots back towards the base of the plant. You bunch together a handful of these cuttings, pruning back the top growth to curtail it from initially sending out new growth until the roots take hold. This is the natural growth habit of Euonymous, in this case “Emerald Gaiety,” an evergreen woody plant,as shown in the picture. What some people do, because this can be the easiest way to make rooted cuttings if there is ample moisture and good loose soil surrounding a plant is to layer or bend a branch parallel to the soil of a particular plant variety, then pin it to the ground with heavy gauge wire bent in two to hold the branch down close to the soil and in the fall after the branch is rooted they prune the newly rooted branch and pot it up. Again bone meal and a watering procedure are a necessity and are good horticultural practice.

Spring bulbs.

Next up is spring bulbs for the landscape garden bed. In my yard Grape Hyacinths spread like weeds. Look in the photo of the Bearded Iris that I propagated. Deep in the soil of the clump I dug up lay Grape Hyacinth bulbs. The best way to figure out where your bulbs are that you want to transplant or divide in the fall is to flag the group, but Grape Hyacinths unlike most bulbs, sprout their leaves in the fall. The flags can be purchased at Home Depot. Usually in spring and summer one doesn’t notice the flags because the gardens are in full bloom, and yet they seem to pop up come fall. Just make certain when you start digging that you give yourself enough room, because sliced bulbs don’t appreciate being cut in half. Careful horticultural practices reap rewards.

Coneflower

Next up to propagating perennials are Coneflowers, Echinacea, don’t try eating the roots to prevent colds, which are long lasting bloomers in late summer standing 12-18" tall. I prefer the pinks or purples over the whites, because that could be confused with a daisy. They are easy to divide and enjoy full sun and well drained soil in the landscape garden bed. Actually all perennials favor well drained soil to perform up to expectations. Unlike the Bearded Iris the rhizomes of the Coneflowers are spread out so if you want to propagate just one or two plants that can be easily accomplished whereas with the Iris you must dig carefully just to replant one or two corms. Coneflowers are the first plant to let you know when they need water after propagation because the plant roots have grown spread quickly and are shown in the photo. It is also necessary when potting or planting that the soil is tamped down, compacted, so it forces all the air out of the soil before watering. Do this with the handle of the trowel when potting or the shovel handle when planting in the landscape garden bed. If air is allowed in the perennial plant roots will dry out fast and all your effort would have been in vain.

Beared Iris

Bearded Iris, whether tall, medium, or dwarf propagation by division takes a bit more care, because the top of the corm must be above the top of the soil when re-planted in a container. As you can see by the photo Iris tends to bunch together during it growing period so dividing it can be tough so be certain that your pot has at least one green leaf shoot. Since Iris generally is the first perennial to bloom in spring you should have many plants spotted throughout the landscape garden and hope it doesn’t rain that often, because it messes with the blooms. The color range of Bearded Iris almost encompasses the full spectrum, but to me black is the standout. Some colors may, because of hybridizing, not take to division as well as some, but do not lose patience. Watering and bone meal are the two most important factors in propagating perennials successfully for the landscape garden bed.

Off Topic.

Since most homeowners do not have a sprinkler system, watering especially in the summer when there is a drought, chances are great some plants will die, depending upon the extent of your landscape garden, no matter how good you mulch. Especially evergreens. What I did two springs ago was to go to purchase one gallon azaleas at a big box store and repotted them into a three gallon containers. I pinched back the flower buds so the growth would go into the plant, not into flowering and two growing seasons later I have a mature plant that sell for five times as much in garden centers. I plant the mature azalea, and since the roots have grown they have a better opportunity to absorb moisture and a greater chance to survive in a drought. Besides if you raise plant material you will focus on watering your “babies” in a controlled setting when some parts of your landscaping might suffer.

Mondo Grass

Mondo Grass has the same growth habit as Liriope, so propagating by division is a necessity, however it is not as showy as Variegated Liriope and it’s evergreen, it doesn’t die back in the winter so there is no need to trim it in the spring, its flowers and fruit are less conspicuous, it doesn’t grow as tall, and normally Mondo Grass is used as a filler say in walkways, between paving stones, because it can bear low traffic wear, but it could also be used to line the landscape garden bed.

Variegated Liriope

Next up is propagating variegated Liriope, sometimes called Lilyturf or Monkey Grass, which expands by runners which can take over landscape garden beds if one is not aggressive in containing its spread, commonly grown in the South or temperate climates. It is an evergreen, but must be cut back in the spring, to promote growth and to deter the previous years growth from remaining because the dead leaves detract from the mass of color. If possible using a lawn mover makes the project go much faster. Propagating by division is done by breaking the clumps into 2-3 pips, cutting back the roots and top growth. It flowers in late summer on spikes, which are basically an inconspicuous blue in color then black fruit appears in the fall. It is best planted for a border and allowed to spread. It takes drought conditions well and does not need full sun, but fertilizing annually helps sustain the vibrant multicolored leaves in a landscape garden bed.

Propagating medium

The mix I use for propagating perennials is silt and cow manure. I have a creek that passes through my property and it leaves silt deposited inside the bends. Silt comes from rain running over soil and washes the top layer soil towards watersheds. Silt is know as “rock flour” or “stone dust.” It is smaller than sand, larger then clay. You can purchase bags of play sand and cow manure from the local big box, but experiment with manure. Most are a mix of manure and compost, but the percentage of compost varies. Manure is a known farm fertilizer but what is purchased in 40 pound bags is normally sterilized and weed free. Use one bag of manure to ½ bag of play sand. Depending on the heat and sunshine watering every 4 days is a must, especially in summer, but less in winter. Greenhouses use a mix of peat moss and pearlite, but those plants are grown in a controlled environment and peat moss has a tendency to dry fast, so don’t use it. Goog horticulture practices leads to results.

Getting the garden beds ready for winter.

Now is the time to clean and mulch garden beds and plant spring bulbs. I always use bone meal whenever I plant perennials or woody plants and also mix in a healthy shovel of cow manure into each hole, purchased from the local big box store. We want to give the roots a good medium to grow in. Here in North Carolina there is an abundance of clay so the soil needs to broken up. Sometimes I use compost in place of manure. Instead of bagging your leaves and setting them out for trash pickup, compost piles are easy to construct. Smith & Hawkin has a great composter although the price has increased 30% since I purchased mine. Just make certain to turn the pile over at least once a week and moisten it. I put all the clippings into the compost when I prune the perennials and to give the worms a head start I grind/blend my kitchen scraps, especially the egg shells. I went to Bed, Bath & Beyond and purchased a seal tight Lucite container to put my scraps in because they can smell up a kitchen after a while. I purchase a large bag of bone meal, 20 pounds, at a specialty hardware store, then use a discarded cool whip container when I am planting instead of lugging around a sack made of paper. A handful of bone meal is sufficient for each plant hole. Good horticulture practices reaps rewards.

The beginning

Propagating perennials by division for anyone is simple. Three things one must remember, one is to water, two is to cut back both the vegetation, and roots when potting new plants, and three, always use bone meal because it promotes root growth. Horticulture by necessity needs water. Depending on what plant zone you live in the best time to divide plants is in the fall. Don’t forget to water. In fall home gardeners are usually cleaning/straightening up their landscape garden beds and getting ready for winter and/or planting bulbs for spring color. Daylily, Beared Iris, Liriope(Monkey Grass), and Hosta are all plants that can be divided to expand the landscape garden around one’s home.

Mixing perennials in amongst woody plants usually gives the landscape design color for nine months of the year and generally hides the unsightly soil if one doesn’t use mulch. Usually by the following fall plants that were divided can be planted in the landscape garden bed for a burst of color the following spring and summer.